Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Comic Book Review: The Flash #5

Literary & Artistic Credits
Writer: Geoff Johns
Art: Francis Manapul
Colorist: Brian Buccellato
Letterer: Sal Cipriano
Cover Art: Manapul & Buccellato

My Awe-Inspiring Opinion
Where does Geoff John’s heart lie? (Other than with Green Lantern…) Why, with The Flash of course!  Johns seems to be luckier any other writer on the planet because he always lands the titles he cares about the most.  The Flash has been a delight to read from beginning to now; and with only five issues in the run, it’s still showing more potential and gusto than I could have hoped for.

The story has so much going on that Johns is justified in stretching the arc out as far as it has.  Most arcs we find today are prolonged for the sake of making it six to twelve issues long.  Johns is giving this Flash story so much meat that it leaves you wanting more.  Barry Allen is presented with the ultimate minority report, (Thanks Spielberg!)  going to jail for a crime he didn’t commit, or allow the inevitable to occur which results in the death of a human life.  And with Barry’s wife in jeopardy, Captain Boomerang on the loose, and the dilemma with the Rogues and Renegades, this Flash installment is nothing but pure excitement and thrills.

Speaking of thrills, Manapul certainly takes us on a roller coaster ride of sparks, flashes, and lighting bolt trails.  The structure and maturity in his artistry and talent is beginning to stick out as an unmatched quality among the comic book gods of art.  Even the depth, presented by colorist Cipriano, is so immensely defined and intense that Ed Benes could be challenged to the ump-teenth degree.

I do have some complaints about how much this title is tying in with Blackest Night and Brightest Day.  I really wanted the Flash to start off fresh and be able to stand on it’s own without referring back to Geoff John’s incredible hit mini-series.  Continuity is important, but can become a bit cumbersome in the midst of a fantastic story.

And of course, how many times have we seen a superhero go on trial by a futuristic police force, or an intergalactic alien government, leaving the hero clueless to the accusations. (That damned trial of Superman back from my childhood really left a bad taste in my mouth.)  And I really do wish we could move past the whole time paradox that exists within our comic books.  I understand it comes along with the territory of science fiction, but honestly, it seems to pop up more often than it should.

My Majestically Climactic Conclusion
Apart from some minor gripes, this issue is a fantastic read and I recommend it to all.  Now with Iris in danger and the Flash on trial for something he hasn’t done yet, I can’t help but wait with great anticipation on what will happen next.  I wish comics didn’t have to be limited to 22 pages.

Rating: 9.66 out of 10
Writing: 10
Art: 10
Themes: 9

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